‘Cardiac Kids’ win two of three; improve to 7-5

Posted: Tuesday, Jan 22nd, 2013BY: Billy Stitz

The Flandreau Flier boys’ basketball team took the court three times last week, starting with an overtime loss to Deuel on Tuesday night followed by another overtime game versus McCook Central/Montrose on Friday. The Fliers were on the winning end of that game as well as their game against Parker on Saturday.

Flandreau 64 – Deuel 68

A couple missed free throws early in the overtime period by Flandreau left the door wide open for Deuel, who took full advantage, taking the lead and running with it for the entire period.

The Fliers started the game playing a bit uninspired on defense, allowing Deuel to essentially do whatever they wanted offensively. Luckily for the Fliers, their offense was playing well enough to keep them in the game.

The two teams played to a 14-14 draw after one quarter but Flandreau had the upper hand in the second quarter – hitting a late bucket to take a 30-29 lead into the halftime break.

The third quarter was back-and-forth just as the first half was but the Cardinals were able to take a slight lead into the final frame at 52-47.

Flandreau battled their way back into late in the forth quarter. Deuel missed some key free throws late that the Fliers were able to capitalize on to tie the game.

Deuel had a chance at the buzzer to win it, but the ball fell harmlessly to the floor, sending the game into overtime.

The Fliers had a chance to go up early but a pair of missed free throws gave the Cardinals a chance to take the lead, and they took full advantage.

The Fliers had to foul and play catch-up the rest of the period, but were not able to make a full comeback.

Jacob Patterson led the Fliers with 17 points on 6-13 shooting including a 3-9 performance from behind the arc. Guy Zephier and Geno Taylor-Burshiem each put up 13 for Flandreau. Mitchel Foster rounded out the double-digit performers with 12 points.

Flandreau’s record drops to 5-5 after the loss, while Deuel improves to 8-1 on the season.

Flandreau 61 – MC-M 55

The boys took to the court again on Friday night in front of a packed house in Flandreau. FHS was able to overcome a late surge by MC-M to take the Big East conference victory in overtime.

Things looked bleak at the start of the game for the Fliers. The Fighting Cougars jumped out to an early 7-0 lead before Fliers head coach Eric Bass was forced to call a timeout to rally the troops.

The Fliers came out of the timeout with a little bit more drive, scoring seven points on three straight possessions to tie the game. MC-M took the lead right back at 9-7 but Patterson would answer with his second three pointer of the game to give the Fliers their first lead of the night at 10-9. Foster would add a three of his own late in the quarter to give the Fliers the 15-11 lead after one-quarter of play.

The Fighting Cougars continued to earn their name by fighting right back to tie the game at 15-15 early in the second quarter.

Another three by Patterson allowed the Fliers to take a four-point lead at 22-18, a lead they would extend to 29-20 before the half was over.

Guy Zephier got into the mix offensively by scoring the first five points of the second half for Flandreau, giving them the 34-26 lead. The Fliers were only able to add two more points before the quarter ended, but the Fighting Cougars were able to put up a game high 18 points in the third, capped by a buzzer beater to give them the two point lead at 38-36 with just eight minutes to play.

Flandreau would battle to a three point lead thanks to a lay up by Foster and another three by Zephier but MC-M came right back to take lead back at 46-43. Foster had seen enough, hitting back to back three pointers to give the Fliers the lead back, a lead they would hold until the final seconds of the quarter.

After Zephier hit two free throws to go up by three with just 20 seconds left, MC-M’s Will Gottlob hit a three from the right wing to tie the game. Flandreau quickly in bounded to Patterson who pushed it up the court, only to be stripped just passed half court. The Fighting Cougars found the open man under the basket. The game looked all but over before Patterson came flying in from what seemed like no where to make the game saving block, forcing the two teams into an overtime period.

Geno Taylor-Burshiem won the overtime tip, knocking it right to teammate David Parsley who finished it off with a wide-open lay-up. The Fighting Cougars were forced to foul for most of the remaining four minutes, giving the Fliers easy points on their way to the 61-55 victory and avenging the 60-57 loss the Fighting Cougars put on Flandreau in the Big East tournament.

Foster led the Fliers with 18 points but was joined by three other teammates in double-figures. Zephier finished with 15, Patterson with 11 and Parsley finished with 10. The Fliers were 12-14 from the free-throw line on the night, their highest percentage of the season.

Flandreau 57 – Parker 54

A huge game by Geno Taylor-Burshiem pushed the Fliers past the Pheasants on Saturday night in Parker for the Fliers second straight Big East Conference victory.

The game was about as evenly matched as it could have been. The Fliers and Pheasants exchanged points for almost all of the first three quarters but Parker got the better of Flandreau in each of them.

Parker took a 15-13 lead after one quarter, extending that lead by one before halftime after dueling Flandreau 19-18 in the second quarter.

The Pheasants built off their 34-31, halftime lead in the third quarter. Parker hit a late jumper to add two points to their lead and take a 47-42 lead heading into the final quarter of play.

Like most of Flandreau’s games of late, this one came down to the wire. Flandreau started storming back early in the quarter and eventually took the lead with less than two minutes left to play. FHS extended their small lead to just three points with little time remaining in the game.

The Pheasants had one last chance to tie the game, which would have been fitting for the Fliers last week, but Flandreau was able to put a stop to the Pheasant attack and earn a hard fought 57-54 victory.

Taylor-Burshiem led the Fliers with 24 points, picking up nine of them via free throws (9-10). Taylor-Brushiem also picked up a team high, six assists for Flandreau. Foster was the only other Flier in double digits, putting up 10 points on 3-14 shooting.

The win improves the Fliers record to 7-5 on the season and 3-0 in the Big East. Flandreau faced of with Garretson last night in their only action of the week. Results from that game will be in next week’s paper.